Audit and Assurance news

MyWorkpapers by Bright, a leading provider of cloud-based working papers for accountants, and Chartered Accountants Ireland, the largest professional body on the island of Ireland have agreed a partnership to drive the digital transformation of the Irish accounting sector, enabling professionals to stay ahead of the curve with cutting-edge tools and streamlined processes. Backed by Bright Software Group this partnership brings a host of technological advancements designed to optimise the work of chartered accountants, offering solutions that improve efficiency, compliance, and collaboration. Key Benefits for accountants and auditors Technological Advantages Boosted Efficiency: Digitised workflows and automated manual processes Streamlined compliance tasks with standardised templates Seamless integrations across accounting systems Real-time collaboration and comprehensive digital audit trails With MyWorkpapers, chartered accountants and auditors across the island of Ireland can now automate routine tasks, reduce errors, and enhance productivity—all while ensuring compliance with the latest regulatory standards. Regulatory Support Staying Ahead of Regulations: Up-to-date local legislation insights Region-specific tax and financial regulation updates Compliance standard alignment The partnership ensures that industry professionals can stay well-informed of evolving regulations, helping them maintain compliance with ease. Platform Capabilities The integrated MyWorkpapers platform now offers: Templates based on the Chartered Accountants Ireland Procedures for Quality Audit (PQAs) and Audit Exempt programme Localised legislative checklists for up-to-date regulatory compliance Methodology-specific workflows designed to enhance accuracy and efficiency Automated compliance tracking for seamless reporting Conal Kennedy, Head of Practice Consulting, Chartered Accountants Ireland said “For many years, our Excel-based PQAs and Audit Exempt packages have been very popular with our members in practice. We are delighted now to offer this choice to members, which will shorten the learning curve by allowing them to use familiar templates and work programs from the existing packages and will give them the extra functionality of the MyWorkpapers platform. Anyone involved in statutory audit or accounts preparation in either the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland should take a look at this.” Ben Bishop, Bright’s Chief Product and Technology Officer, said “This partnership allows us to deliver a digitised and rules-driven version of the guidelines directly in line with the work being undertaken by the accountant. Helping to ensure high quality, compliant and repeatable output every time; the digitally delivered updates will help keep practice staff on point with any changes to process or compliance. Together, we are empowering accounting professionals to deliver even greater value to their clients while staying compliant and ahead of industry trends. As part of the Bright family, MyWorkpapers continues to drive innovation in the accounting sector, offering solutions that evolve with the needs of modern accountants.” Accounting and audit professionals can access the integrated platform immediately at www.myworkpapers.com/eu

IAASA has published its 2024 quality assurance review reports in respect of seven firms that perform statutory audits of public-interest entities (PIEs) in Ireland. The reports summarise IAASA’s inspection of each firm’s internal system of quality management. The reports include any findings and recommendations made by IAASA to the firms regarding these systems. The reports also summarise the results arising from IAASA’s inspection of a sample of audits of public-interest entities performed by each firm, including the grades assigned to the audits inspected and any key recommendations made to the firm.

Technical Alert 02/2025 – Illustrative Management Representation Letter in respect to the provision of Limited Assurance under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive This Technical Alert provides an illustrative example of a management representation letter that may be used by the assurance provider when conducting a limited assurance engagement required under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (“CSRD”) as transposed in Ireland into Part 28 of the Companies Act 2014. The International Standard on Assurance Engagements (Ireland) 3000 Assurance Engagements Other Than Audits or Reviews of Historical Financial Information – Assurance of Sustainability Reporting in Ireland (ISAE (Ireland) 3000) as issued by the Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority is the applicable assurance standard to be used for CSRD sustainability reporting in Ireland. ISAE (Ireland) 3000 paragraph 56-57 provides that: “56. The practitioner shall request from the appropriate party(ies) a written representation: That it has provided the practitioner with all information of which the appropriate party(ies) is aware that is relevant to the engagement. Confirming the measurement or evaluation of the underlying subject matter against the applicable criteria, including that all relevant matters are reflected in the subject matter information. 57. If, in addition to required representations, the practitioner determines that it is necessary to obtain one or more written representations to support other evidence relevant to the subject matter information, the practitioner shall request such other written representations.”   Click here  to access the TA.  Click ISAE (Ireland) 3000 to access the standard.

This Technical Alert (TA) has been prepared to assist members reporting on the limited assurance engagements under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (“CSRD”) and in compliance with International Standard On Assurance Engagements (Ireland) 3000 Assurance Engagements Other Than Audits Or Reviews Of Historical Financial Information – Assurance Of Sustainability Reporting In Ireland (ISAE (Ireland) 3000) Click here Technical Alert 04 2024 Limited Assurance Report on Sustainability Statement to access the TA.  Click ISAE (Ireland) 3000 to access the standard.  

Earlier this year the FRC published an update to its Ethical Standard for auditors, effective from 15 December 2024. The updated ethical standard simplifies the existing ethical standard and provided additional clarity in a limited number of areas. the new standard takes into account recent revisions made to the international IESBA Code of Ethics. there is a new targeted restriction on fees from entities related by a single controlling party. Following feedback to their consultation, the FRC have amended the proposals to ensure that the requirements in the standard are better targeted and proportionate. For example, additional requirements in respect of ethical breach reporting by audit firms to the regulator have been removed. With regard to tax services provided to the controlling shareholders of unlisted companies the FRC is enhancing the independence risk assessment around these services rather than specifically prohibiting them. Alongside the revised Ethical Standard, the FRC has also released guidance for auditors on the application of the Objective, Reasonable and Informed Third Party test, which forms a key part of many requirements in the Ethical Standard. Read the updated Ethical Standard. Read the feedback statement and impact statement. CAI responded to the FRC consultation and you can read our response here.  

The IAASB has published the much anticipated ISSA 5000 International Standard on Sustainability Assurance 5000, General Requirements for Sustainability Assurance Engagements.  This standard is a comprehensive, stand-alone standard suitable for any sustainability assurance engagements. It will apply to sustainability information reported across any sustainability topic and prepared under multiple frameworks. The standard is also profession agnostic, supporting its use by both professional accountants and non-accountant assurance practitioners. The draft standard was subject to a public consultation in 2023 and Chartered Accountants Ireland's response can be read here.